Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson dies 'unexpectedly' at age 62 while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer
- Sorenson died on Monday while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer
- He was the third CEO in Marriott's history, and the first not named Marriott
- On February 2, he reduced his schedule at the company for cancer treatment
- Sorenson led the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016
Arne Sorenson, the president and CEO of hotel chain Marriott International, has died while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. He was 62.
Sorenson, who lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland near Marriott's headquarters, died 'unexpectedly' on Monday after scaling back his work schedule for cancer treatment, the company said in a statement.
Marriott had first announced the married father-of-four's cancer diagnosis in May 2019, and on February 2 the company said he would step back from work duties to undergo more demanding treatment.
Sorenson had led the company since 2012, and was the third CEO in Marriott's history, and the first who did not have the surname Marriott.
Arne Sorenson, the president and CEO of hotel chain Marriott International, has died while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. He was 62
Sorenson is seen with J.W. Marriott Jr celebrating the company's $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016
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'Arne was an exceptional executive – but more than that – he was an exceptional human being,' said J.W. Marriott Jr, the company's executive chairman, in a statement.
'Arne loved every aspect of this business and relished time spent touring our hotels and meeting associates around the world,' added Marriott Jr.
'On behalf of the Board and Marriott's hundreds of thousands of associates around the world, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Arne's wife and four children. We share your heartbreak, and we will miss Arne deeply.'
Since Sorenson stepped back from his duties earlier this month, the day-to-day running of the company has been overseen by two veteran Marriott executives: Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano.
They will continue in this capacity until the Marriott Board appoints a new CEO, which is expected to be within the next two weeks.
Arne Sorenson, CEO of Marriott International, welcomes guests with a view of the skyline at the grand opening of the Marriott Marquis Chicago on November 16, 2017 in Chicago
Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview in New York on June 3, 2019
Arne Morris Sorenson was born on October 13, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Lutheran pastor.
He and his wife Ruth met as teenagers, when she was working at the Whippy Dip ice cream parlor her parents owned in Decorah, Iowa and served him a cone.
After graduating from Luther College and the University of Minnesota Law School, he practiced law in Washington, D.C. with Latham and Watkins, specializing in mergers and acquisitions.
Sorenson went on to work as a director for Walmart and chief operating officer for Marriott before becoming the first person outside of the Marriott family to lead the hotel chain.
He led Marriott's $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016, resulting in a dramatic expansion of Marriott's global footprint.
Sorenson is seen with wife Ruth at Super Bowl LII in Minnesota in 2018. The first met as teenagers in an ice cream parlor owned by her parents in Iowa
Sorenson was born on October 13, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Lutheran pastor. Above, he is seen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2018
Sorenson is seen with the Marriott team in Times Square in 2016 celebrating the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
'He had an uncanny ability to anticipate where the hospitality industry was headed and position Marriott for growth. But the roles he relished the most were as husband, father, brother and friend,' said Marriott Jr.
Sorenson was named CEO of the year by Chief Executive Magazine in April 2019, one month before his cancer diagnosis was made public by the company.
In March of last year, he announced that he would forego his entire salary for 2020, to help the company weather the COVID-19 pandemic, which battered the hotel industry.
Sorenson is survived by his wife Ruth Marie and their four children, Astri, Esther, Isaac and Lars.
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